Crystalline Chill

[warpstriking]

Who: Residents of house C-01 and friends!
When: All throughout May, see prompts and individual threads
Where: House C-01
What: Monthly catchall for the XV House shenanigans
Warnings/Notes: There's likely going to be spoilers for Kingsglaive and the main game up to Chapter 13 somewhere in the comments.


A. Sometimes you just want to ride...
Late in the morning of the 1st, there is a low purring sound of an engine going down the street. One that wasn't accustomed to travel aside by foot or chocobo claw. Yet, somehow, a certain man manages not to clip a single thing. And it sits there, in front of House C-01, black, shiny, and very much a wonder to a few moogles. Especially since the convertible's roof is airship-grade plexiglass.

B. [Insert "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" joke here]
There was one upside to living with the once-deceased leader of the Crownsguard, and that was one didn't have to go far for a training enthusiast. There was also one downside to this: not having to go far for a training enthusiast. It's the crack of dawn when the nice little symphony of insects and kwehs get interrupted by the sounds of wooden weapons clashing and spells being practiced.

Rest in pieces, light sleepers. They apologize in advance.

C. That's it!
Of course, no one can train or go through the day on no fuel. And one person in particular has taken upon himself to at least ensure a few others can eventually cook eggs without burning them. The real question is: Will Ignis come up with a new recipeh involving that jar of kupo nut butter?

D. I want to ride my chocobo all day~
If anyone is surprised at the fact that there are two or three (depending on the date because Chocobo Eater event) lovely birds, then they clearly don't understand at least 50% of the household's love for the magnificent creatures. The black one in particular seems to be particularly happy with their nice little stack of shiny objects...

There may or may not be a pair of glasses on the top of that pile. Sorry, Specs.

E. Hold my Ebony
(Feel free to come up with your own prompts, guys; these aren't the limits to our zaniness.)

Comments

[spaceforged]

They need to move somehow. Some direction. He stares at the red wings. "Come see the Black Lion." Even if it's just showing the machine that has saved him so many times and he it. It's a way to go. "It won't take long and we aren't going far."

Maybe it's grasping at straws. But it's a way forward.

[warpstriking]

Noctis froze slightly at the thought of leaving without a word, despite his moogle likely searching for someone in there to tell he was back with a surprise. Yet he quickly seems to thaw, nodding stiffly. "Sure thing."

It is grasping at straws, but it's something. And something was better than being stuck in the past and being unable to see the horizon. He lightly kicks off the Regalia, moving to follow Shiro.

[spaceforged]

He turns on his heel and strides for the Lion. With it here he can feel that instinct that tells him which way to go. Even if the Lion is powered down he is still its Paladin. He'd charted out the streets and distance the moment he'd thought to go for it. They cross over into B territory and he walks straight to the back. There the Lion lies.

One massive metal paw rests out in front, the other settled farther back, closer to the head. He makes right for the snout. Shiro places one hand against it and something inside him that had been stirring into an unease and almost panic settles right back down. "They were built ten thousand years ago, by King Alfor of Altea. Even today, Altean technology...it's a mix of science and, I guess, magic."

He turns back to Noctis with his hand still on the Lion. "It's still more advanced than anything that exists today."

[warpstriking]

Noctis knew that it was massive when he could see its wings from his own temporary residence. Yet to see it up close, he couldn't help how his eyes widen in both shock and awe. While much of his family's iconography are skulls and wings with a bit of draconic influence, he can't help but be amazed at the massive Lion.

That something so old could be in such good shape, he didn't know what to say to that. Other than, well,

"Whoa." Yeah. Real elegant, Noct. Might as well start introducing yourself as Noct Gar again at this rate. "Definitely out of the league of most of the stuff back home, too."

[spaceforged]

"The Black Lion is the biggest." His lips twitch in a small smile. "All the others are smaller but it takes all of them to form Voltron." He pats the lion. "Head and chest. Hunk's Yellow forms a leg." His eyes spark with a hint of mischief.

"We'll be a little lopsided if we were to try. Not that we can without all five." There's a faint feeling in his mind like the brush of a nose against his back. Powered down as the Lion is. It's still there.

"It's kind of a good thing the Lion is powered down. I don't think they could have retrieved it otherwise. They put up a barrier when their Paladin is absent."

[warpstriking]

Noct lets out a quiet 'huh', resting his hands on his hips as he looks up at the mechanical beast. The thing ate its Wheaties, that's for sure. But head, chest, and-? ...

"Well, at least you have a leg to stand on," he says in a matter-of-fact tone, shrugging. He couldn't help it. The joke was there and he had to take it.

[spaceforged]

"Now we just need a hand." He flashes a grin, his tone just as matter-of-fact. Lance isn't around to hide the puns and jokes from. He doesn't have to always be so serious. His grin grows wider as he looks to Black. "Then we'll be ahead of the game."

[warpstriking]

Good, because he's fairly certain that being serious all the time is bad for one's health. Only had to look at Ignis' coffee addiction for proof of that. But, it was good to hear him joking around. They both needed that.

"Yeah, so hop to it." Because one leg, how else would it get around (aside from flight).

[spaceforged]

"I dunno maybe I'll lion around some more." His smile lasts a little longer than it settles. "Anyway," He lets his hand finally fall away from the beast. "Feeling a little better? I know big machines always brighten my day."

Another joke. They need it.

[warpstriking]

"Just don't come growling to me when that doesn't work." He shrugs it off, but grins. "Little bit, yeah. Though usually spend more time wrecking them, myself."

They did indeed, and that glint in Noct's eyes says he isn't kidding about the last part.

[spaceforged]

That gets a laugh out of him. “Usually that’s our job too.” He leans back against the Lion. “I fleet ships are piloted and manned mostly by robotic constructs. Mostly.” And they take them down. They have to. There is no other alternative for now. But that could change if Zarkon is removed from power. But he may not live to see that.

A fact he has kept to himself the entire time. No one needs that problem on their doorstep. He looks up at the Black Lion. “When it can fly again...there was a power I unlocked just before I woke up in the dream Width. I want to see if I can use the Black Lion’s teleporting again.”

[warpstriking]

"Funny. So are most airships back home." At least, what they once thought were just robots... He wasn't about to bring that up, though. It was already weird their worlds had that much in common, along with some vegetables. Thanks, Hunk.

"Teleporting?" Now that got him even more curious. That something this large had the capability of teleportation was more than a little fascinating.

[spaceforged]

"Yeah. I've only used it once but I've seen it in Black's memories. I'm not entirely sure how it works." He's not about to bring up how he passed through a mental space and ripped the bayard free from Zarkon's hand. That belongs to early morning thoughts while he exercises. It's good food for thought on a long run.

"It's wings change. The red part there has bladed feathers of what looks like energy. It's possible I won't be able to use it...but if I could. That could be a huge advantage if we ever need to cover ground fast."

[warpstriking]

"If I could see it, I might be able to come up with an idea." He crosses his arms, thinking. "One of the ways my family's magic manifests is short-range teleportation, or 'warping.'" He doesn't really talk much about it, here. Considering how it's tied to his feelings of powerlessness. Yet, Shiro deserved an explanation after he said that.

The wings changing was interesting, though. And he'd be lying if something in his eyes didn't twinkle a little at the idea.

[spaceforged]

Shiro’s eyes widen in surprise and then his own eyes twinkle. A teleporter. “It felt like we passed through things when we ported once. We passed through the previous Black Paladin and I snatched,” He reaches for the Bayard and holds it up. “The Bayard that no longer belonged to him. He lost that right.” His voice is hard by the end of it.

“He betrayed his team and the universe has been paying for it for over ten thousand years.”

[warpstriking]

A flicker of something crosses his face; understanding, maybe a little too much so. Losing the right to a power that was once yours... Yeah, he knew someone like that.

Noctis looks thoughtful for a moment, carefully considering the phrasing Shiro uses to describe the act as he studies the bayard. "So not only teleportation, but phasing..." Something he is also acutely familiar with, considering his tone.

[spaceforged]

He slides the bayard back into its clip on his belt and nods. "Yes, I agree. I appeared in reality behind him." He notes, almost as an afterthought. "When the Black Lion showed me its memories, that's what it looked like from the outside too." Zarkon had phased through targets and shot them from the other side.

He glances up at the Lion. "Each lion has a special hidden power. And they're constantly evolving and growing stronger. Give it another ten thousand years and I'm not sure what they'll be capable of then."

[warpstriking]

"Uh, 'in reality'?" Sorry, Shiro. You lost him there for a moment. Not to mention showing others memories. That seemed to resonate a little close to home.

Still, ten thousand years? That's an oddly specific number. "Too bad not many get to see that long."

[spaceforged]

"We phased through a mental space? I'm not sure how to describe it. When the Lion was sharing memories with me the previous Black Paladin interfered. He said that, 'When you die in this realm your body dies as well.' It couldn't be normal reality. I woke up in the Lion after it saved me."

Were it anyone else outside of the team he wouldn't have to said so. But Noctis has earned his trust. And he has experience that Shiro needs to draw on.

[warpstriking]

Noctis blinks at that, crossing his arms as he thinks about it. Ignis would probably have a better grasp at it than he does, but... a mental space? He remembers two places similar in description. One more so than the other. "Sounds more like a different plane than an entirely different reality. But then, history and literature were my thing; not theoretical physics."

Says the last in a line of kings and queens who tend to warp after the weapons they throw.

Noctis gazes down at the space between them for a moment, before removing the ring from his right middle finger and holding it up for Shiro to see. "...A similar 'scape ordinarily exists in this, and in it... untold power. Yet if one is found unworthy, they burn in both."

And with that said, he places the ring back on his finger as though it were nothing.

[spaceforged]

"...I assume that's to prevent that power from being misused and not for the sake of it." It puts more emphasis on why Noctis keeps the ring on him. The lives of anyone who approach that ring are in question. Whether they use it to protect the kingdom or not. "...what happens to the worthy?"

He hadn't said they burn. But he hadn't said what happens to them either. He places his hand back on the Lion. "Lions only power up for people they deem worthy of their trust. That's the basis of being a Voltron Paladin. Trust and respect the Lion and your teammates."

[warpstriking]

Noctis' eyes narrow slightly, lips pursing together. Yet he simply slips into the same mindset he did for when he needed to share with Prompto the nature of the Messengers all those months ago. Sometimes, he still can't believe it'd only been months.

"...To safeguard the future of my world." Maybe it's simply a trick of the the light, or because of how they lingered beneath the shadow of the Black Lion, but for an instant, it's as though his eyes faintly glow crimson. Sometimes being a black mage has it's advantages. "A price is demanded. For those of royal blood, our lives are shortened with each use. But for those who aren't..." He shakes his head, adding, "It differs, but their blessing is always temporary. One way or another, they who wield the light of the Lucii have to face the fact that they will burn. One way or another. Even me."

Especially him, the last of their line. Though at the explanation of the Paladins, he can't help a faint smile. It reminds him of how he'd share his powers with those he trusts.

[spaceforged]

Noctis is going to have a potentially short life. The realization pours ice through his veins. They haven't been friends long but the thought... His eyes narrow just a hair. A price has to be paid. He leans more to one side and his hip makes contact with the lion. He shouldn't judge the powers of another world. They do what they must to protect what they hold dear.

But he doesn't like it. "I see." He doubts the Lions are doing that to them. He'd felt tired in that last battle because Zarkon was constantly attacking him. It had been like trying to hold back a storm. Shiro tips his head up to stare at the Lion one more time. "As far as I can tell nothing like that exists in my universe. Even the Galra and their harvesting quintessence they haven't literally burned for using it as fuel."

[warpstriking]

Oh, if only Shiro knew. Still, he felt as though he should reassure him of one thing. "Yeah. It's why I don't take it off often. Even if it's power is sealed."

The idea that it could potentially awaken again stopped him from ever carelessly placing it somewhere another could grab it and they'd find the hard way that it was awake again. He wouldn't wish that fate on anyone, and at least for him... it would only be if he was actively using it.

The look on his face likely said it all, though: he didn't like it, either; yet he accepted his role with as much grace as he was allowed.

"There's always a price," Noctis mutters, his gaze following Shiro's. "Even if they aren't the ones who pay for it."

[spaceforged]

His gaze darkens. "Yes, and the universe has paid that price too many times." His blood runs cold at the thought of anyone picking up that ring. Countless lives could be snuffed out. Shiro doesn't like the light of the Lucii but he'll respect it. His respect for Noctis shows in his eyes as he turns his head to look at him.

"I understand the risks. We both have things that absolutely should never be misused or picked up carelessly." He shuts his eyes and sighs. "Like I said before. I'll help as much as I'm able to."